Obama, Merkel "ready and prepared" for more Russian sanctions

Friday, May 02, 2014 - 01:51

May 2 - President Obama and German Chancellor Angela Merkel said they were united in their desire to impose costs on Russia for its actions in Ukraine, if the May 25th election is compromised. Rough Cut (no reporter narration).

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ROUGH CUT (NO REPORTER NARRATION)
U.S. President Barack Obama on Friday (May 2) called on Russia to influence pro-Russian military groups in Ukraine to stand down and said it was disgraceful that the militias were holding international observers.
Obama, speaking at the White House with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, said they were united in their desire to impose costs on Russia for its actions in Ukraine.
"If in fact we see the disruptions and the destabilizations continuing so severely that it impedes elections on May 25th, we will not have a choice but to move forward with additional, more severe sanctions," said Obama.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Friday "we are ready and prepared" to impose sectorial sanctions on Russia.
"This is something that we don't want. We have made a diplomatic offer... so it's very much up to the Russians which road we will embark on," said Merkel.
Merkel, appearing at the White House with President Barack Obama, said European Union heads of state and government are prepared to meet about Ukraine at any time if necessary.

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